Apparatus for constructing levees and the like



Aug. 22, 1933. ,1. T. CHAMBERS APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUGTING LEVEES AND THE LIKE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 26', 1932 U .H H m\ Q I i A I/V 2% I@!\\ INVENTOR ATTORNEY$ Aug. 22, 1933. J. T. CHAMBERS 1,923,913

APPARATUS FOR CONSTRUCTING LEVEES AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 26, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I IN NTOR fvivf WWM ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 212, 1933 APPARIATUS FOR'CONSTRUCTING LEVEES AND. THE LIKE John Taylor Chambers, New OrleanaLa.

Application January 26,

27 Claims.

a low height during the various stages of construction.

Another object resides in the provision of apparatus including power mechanism, trackage, graders, and loading mechanism all arranged in a novel manner.

How the foregoing, together with such other objects and advantages as may hereinafter ap-' pear or are incident to my invention, are realized,

50 is illustrated in preferredform in the accompanying drawings, wherein U Figure 1 is a more or less diagrammatic side elevation of an apparatus constructed in accordance withiny invention, illustrating the apparatus in its initial position; a 1

Figure 2 is a more or less diagrammatic plan view'oi' a structure corresponding to that of Figure 1; v

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side -elevation of a portion of the apparatus;

Figure A is an enlarged cross section taken substantiallyon the line 4 of Figure 3;

Figures 5, 6 and '7 are side elevational views similar to Figure 1, illustrating the apparatus in various positions, and

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic cross section through a levee adapted to be constructed through the employment of my apparatus. 1

Referring now particularly to Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the apparatus comprises in general a truss-like structure A, a truss-like structure B, base structur s C and D, trackage E, a loading de vice F and filling material handling cars G.

The structure A is preferabiy-composed of apair of side trusses 9 and suitable cross members 10, although a number of trusses maybe employed, depending on the length of the structure, i. e., one or more structures similar to the structure A and resting on bases similar tothe base struce ture C may beemployed as desired. Y

The structur 13 in this instance is composedof two pairs ofside trusses lland l2 and suitable cross members 18, thepair of trusses 12 being articulated to the pair of trusses 11 as indicated at 14. In other instances, however, the stgucture' enabling dumping of the filling material from.

1932. Serial No. 588,905 (or. 214-400) B may be of the sameform as the structure A. The trussstructures A and B may be further strengthened by diagonal braces and are suitably balanced by means of counterweights. The counterweight arrangement may be such that a balanced double cantilever truss is provided which is supported mainly on the base structure D. I have illustrated the structure A as resting on the base structure C and it will thus be seen that this structure spans the space between the base structures C and D. The truss structure B is pivotally mounted on the supporting base D as indicated at 15 and is adapted to be swung up and down by any suitable means such as the block and A may also be pivoted at 17 and raised and lowered by means of a block and tackle arrangement 18. The truss structure B may be articulated as by Imeans'of block and tackle devices 19. The block: and tackle devices 16 and 19 are adapted to be operated by a power or driving device, such as a motor 20,fhaving suitable winding drums 21 and 22; A winding drum 23 may also be provided for operating the block and tackle devices 18. The "power or driving device is preferably mounted on the supporting base D.

The cantilever structure B as a whole is adapted to be elevated or inclined'when the, operating cable 24 ofthe devices 16 is wound onto its drum, and lowered when the cable is unwound. When the operating cable 25 is wound .onto its drum the cantileverstructure B is articulated in the manner indicated indouble dot and dash lines in Figure 7, and when this cable is unwound the cantilever structure articulates in the manner shown in Figure 6. The purpose of these operations will appear fully hereinafter.

Referring now in particular to Figure 2, it will be seen that I have illustrated two tracks for the filling material handling cars G, and in this instance the cars are cable driven by means of suitable cabling indicated at 26 and 27. A winding drum .28, driven by the motor 20, is provided for-the-cables 26 and 27, whichare wound thereon in a manner that when one cable is wound onto the drum the other is unwound therefrom. .Suit able reversing mechanism is associated with the winding drum .28 so that the cars may be driven in either direction. I also contemplate employing a separate drum for each of the cables 26 and 2'7. While I have illustrated cable-driven cars for transporting the material, it is to be understood that other forms of transporting devices may be employed, such for example as self-propelled vehicles, and that any suitable number of cars or vehicles may be employed. Furthermore, the trackage maybe single or double and may include switches for the proper handling of the cars. The material handling cars G may be either or" the .nondump or dump type, although I prefer to tackle. arrangement shown at 16; The structure employ cars of the dump type equipped with a tripping member 29 adapted to be sprung by a tripping device 30 associated with the trackage'. The tripping device so is movably mounted and may be located at any point along the length of the track where dumping is to occur. It is pointed out that the rails are supported by beams and ties arranged to provide free clearance for dumping of the load. A grading device 31 is movably carried by the truss structure B and may be in the form of a blade adapted to be drawn over the embankment slope for the purpose of smoothing it down and dressing the surface. The grading device may be operated as by means of a drawn cable.

The loading device F includes a hopper adapted to facilitate loading of material into the cars from an excavating machine associated with the apparatus, and arranged to convey material thereto from a remote point. The loading device may be carried either by the base 0 or at the end of the structure A. This hopper may be constructed to act merely as a means to direct the load into the car or it may be in the form of a storage bin adapted to accumulate loads while the cars are transporting their loads, in which case suitable control gates would be provided.

The method of procedure in the construction of a levee through my invention is as follows:

The apparatus is placed with its trackage at right angles to the center line of the levee to be constructed, with t 1e far end (righ"-hand end as viewed in Figure l) of the truss structure B approximately where the far toe of the embankment is to come. This point is known in levee construction as the land-side toe of the levee. After the apparatus been so located, the cantilever structure 3 is placed in a substantially horizontal position such as illustrated in Figure 1, and the loaded cars are moved along the trackage to the desired. point where they are automatically dumped by the tripping device 30 which had been previously set. After the cars have been unloaded they are returned to the loading device. The tripping device is moved from point to point lengthwise of the structure B until a substantially fiat base has been formed. for the full width of the embankment in process of construction, after which the entire apparatus is moved through the medium of the movable base D in'a direction lengthwise of the levee a distance somewhat greater than the width of the apparatus.

The movable base D is supported by any known form of traction device, such as skids and rollers, wheel trucks, or caterpi- The base structure C may be adjustable to properly take the load acting on the end'oi the truss-like structure A or to clear the ground when the machine is being moved from one position to another, the function of the structure C being primarily to stabilize the apparatus when the cars are receiving and dumping their loads and traveling over the tracks. It is pointed out that with the apparatus positioned as above described, the filling material has only a short drop from the supporting structure to the base being constructed, so that spreading of the filling material beyond the confines desired, is avoided.

Having thus iormed a base fill for the section under construction, the cantilever structure B is elevated or swung up ardly on its pivot 15 forthe purpose of inci ng the fill to the form of a substantial embankment. The amount of inclination may vary in different levees and gendescribed hereinbefore.

erally the truss B is raised an amount just sufficient to permit another layer to be deposited upon the base fill, then raised a small amount and another layer deposited and so on until a substantial embankment is formed, as indicated in Figure 5. The apparatus may have to be moved back and forth frequently, in a direction lengthwise of the levee, during the process of constructing this section, and when the section is completed the apparatus is moved in a clirection lengthwise of the levee and a new section constructed in the same manner and so on for the. entire length of the levee.

The raising of the cantilever structure is accomplished through means of the apparatus fully With the apparatus in raised position, loaded filling material cars are transported over the substantially horizontal structure A to the inclined structureB, and travel up the incline thereof where they are dumped in accordance with the setting of the tripping mechanism. Thus the car Will always be not far above the top of the fill when it is dumped, so that the material need only drop a short distance in forming the embankment.

If it is desired to smooth down the river-side or water-side slope of the embankment thus formed, the grading device 31 may be moved lengthwise of the cantilever structure through the medium of its operating means. Furthermore, if it is desired to smooth down the landside slope of the embankment, the cantilever truss structure B may be articulated to the position illustrated in '6, so that the structure assumes a position corresponding substantially to the slope desired, and then the grader may be operated.

In the event that the embankment formed in the preceding operations is to be still further enlarged both as to height and as to width, the apparatus is then moved in a direction crosswise and away from the embankment to a position such as illustrated in Figure 7.

In enlarging the levee or embankment I propose to first form a substantially flat base fill 32 for the enlargement, and to th accomplishment of this end the cantilever truss B is articulated to the position indicated in double dot and dash lines at 33, so that the left-hand portion of the truss is in a substantially flat position and the right-hand portion in an inclined position corresponding to the water-side slope 34 of the previous fill. With the apparatus in this position, the operations described in connection with Figure 1 are repeated until a flat base fill for the enlargement is formed. Following this, the cantilever structure B is articulated in stages for the purpose of depositing layers in the manner above described, until it finally takes a straight form, as shown in full lines at 35 in Figure 7, and then it is moved to its inclined positions to complete the enlargement fill in the manner above described in accordance with Figure 5. The surface of the slope may be graded again by means of the grad ing device 31.

While I have illustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 7 the land-side and Water-side slopes as being of substantially the same angle, it is to be understood that it' is preferable in levee construction to have the land-side slope 36 of less inclination than the water-side slope 37 as illustrated in Figure 3 r ment costs are considerably reduced over existing apparatus and methods. By locating the flexible joint or pivot 15 at the base '1) which is located adjacent the location where the levee is'to be constructed, I am enabled at all times to keep the material handling car not far above the top of the fill when it is dumped and therefore, the material has a-relatively small drop.

The weight of the structure may be kept down by employing metal such as aluminum alloy, in the construction of the trusses.

though I have described my invention in connection with the construction of new levees, it'is to be understood that it is also advantageous for the purpose of reconstructing or enlarging existing levees.

I claim: i

- 1. In apparatus for transporting material from a remote location to a location where it is to be dumped for constructing a levee 'or the like, the combination of a central movable supporting structure, a cantilever structure extending from the central structure to said remote location, a

second cantilever structure extending from the central structure to the location where the levee is to be constructed, means located adjacent the ground level for pivotally mounting said cantilever structures on the central structure whereby the apparatus is adapted to handle the material close to the general ground level, said central structure'being inadequate to provide proper stability of the apparatus save 'when it is not handling material, and other support means adapted to supplement the central structure in 5 providing stability of the apparatus when it is long oppositely extending cantilever'armspivoted to the support, one of which has itsunpivoted end extending to the region oiexcavation to receive excavated material thereat, and the other of which extends over the region to be filled, means extending over both oi said-arms and said support for the transport of excavated material, means transportably carrying said central support, and other support means independent of the central support adapted to stabilize the machine when handling material.

3. A transportable levee constructing machine adapted to extend between the region of dump-- ing of excavated material to form the levee and an excavating regionremote therefrom, comprising alow-lying structure including a relatively small substantially central support, a pair of relatively long oppositely extending cantilever arms pivoted to the support, one of which has its unpivoted end extending to the region of excavation to receive excavated material thereat,

. and the other of which extends over the region to be filled, means extending over both of said arms and said support for the transport of excavated material, means transportably carrying said support, means for swinging said arms on their pivots, other support means independent of the central support adapted to stabilize the machine when handling material, and power means common to the material transporting means and the means for swinging the arms...

4. In levee constructing apparatus the combinationof a relatively small central movable tower, a pair of vertically aligned relatively long cantilever trusses horizontally pivoted to opposite sides of said tower, said tower and trusses providing a continuous fiexible runway from loading end to unloading end of the apparatus, means for adjust ing the cantitlever trusses whereby the apparatus may be adapted to Varying relative differences of elevations at the loading end, the tower, and the unloading end, and whereby the runway may be positioned to lie generally withina plane from loading to unloading points locatedin proximity to the ground level, and may be flexed out of said'plane as working conditions require, and support means independent of the central tower adapted to stabilize the machine when handling material i I w '5. In levee constructing apparatus the combination of a relatively small central movable-tower, a pair of'vertically aligned relatively'long cantilevertrusses horizontally pivoted to opposite sides of said tower, said tower and trusses providing a continuous, flexible runway from'loading end to unloading end of the'apparatus, means for adjusting the cantilevertrusses whereby the ap paratus may be adapted to varying relative differences of elevations at the loading "end, the tower, and the unloading end, and whereby the runway may be positioned to lie generally .within a plane from loading to unloading points located inproximity to the ground level, and may be flexed out of said plane as working conditions require, and support means independent of the central tower adapted to stabilize the machi -e when handling material, one of said arms being articulated.intermediate its ends.

6. In levee constructing apparatus the combination of a'relatively small central movable tower, a pair of vertically aligned relatively long cantilever trusses horizontally pivoted to opposite sides of -said tower, said tower and trusses providing a continuous, flexible runway'from loading end to unloading end of the apparatus, means for adjusting the cantilever trusses whereby the apparatus may be adapted to varying relative 129 differences of elevations at the loading end, the tower, and the'unloading end,and whereby the runway may be positioned to'lie generally within a plane from loading to unloading points located in proximity to the ground level, and maybe flexed outof said plane as workingconditions require, and support means carried at the ex-' tremityof one of said cantilever trusses adapted to stabilize the machine when handling material. i

7. In portable mechanism for constructing levees and the like, a low-lying structure comprising a central support, a pair of oppositely extending'arms pivoted on saidsupport, said central support being in length but a small minor fractional part of the total span oi the mechanism so that in spread it is insufficient to afford stability of the structure when handling construction material and'yet sufiicient to afford stability when not'handling such material, other support means locatedremote from the central support and adapted to supplement said central support to afford stabilityof the structure when handling construction material, and means for supporting the load of the arms entirely on the central support to permit of transport of the device when not handling material.

8. In a portable mechanism for constructing levees and the like, a low-lying structure comprising a central supportja pair of oppositely 100 extending far-reaching arms on said support, said central support being in length but a small minor fractional part of the totalspan of the mechanism so that in spread it is insufiicient to afford stability of the structure when handling construction material and yet sufiicient to afford stability when not handling such material, at least one of said arms being pivoted to said support, other support means located remote from the central support and adapted to supplement said central support to afford stability of the structure when handling construction material, and means for supporting the load of the arms entirely on the central support to permit of transport of the device when not handling material.

9. In portable mechanism for constructing levees and the like, a low-lying structure comprising a central support having means for movably carrying it, a pair of far-reaching oppositely extending arms pivoted on said support, said central support being in length but a small minor fractional part of the total span of the mechanism so that in spread it is insufiicient to afford stability of the structure when handling construction material and yet sufficient to afiord stability when not handling such material, other support means located remote from the central support and adapted to supplement said central support to afford stability of the structure when handling construction material, and means for supporting the load of the arms entirely on the central support to permit of transport of the device when not handling material.

10. A portable flexible bridge-like structure comprising a central movable base, a pair of vertically aligned far-reaching cantilever structures horizontally pivoted at opposite sides of said base, said central base being in length but a small minor fractional part of the total span of the mechanism, means for swinging said cantilever structures on their pivots, said base and cantilever structures providing a flexiblle runway continuous for the full length of the structure, means supplementing said base to provide stability of the structure when loads are being transported thereover, and means whereby the device may be transported.

11. The combination. with a portable flexible bridge-like structure inherently unstable when in use, comprising a central movable base, a pair ofverticaily aligned cantilever structures horizontally pivoted at opposite sides of said base, of other base means, and means for swinging said cantilever structures to positions in which they receive their entire support from the central base with stability and to positions in which said other base means provides support supplementing that afforded by the central base to'stabilize the structure when loads are being transported thereover.

12. The combination with a portable flexible bridge-like structure inherently unstable when in use, comprising a central movable base, a pair of vertically aligned cantilever structures horizontally pivoted at opposite sides of said base, of other base meana'and means for swinging said cantilever structures to positions in which their free ends are unsupported whereby they receive their entire support from the central base with stability and to positions in which one receives support from said other base means to stabilize the structur when loads are being transported thereover, and in which the other has its free end unsupported.

13. In apparatus for constructing levees and the like, the combination of a relatively small central movable supporting structure including a tower, a pair of relatively long vertically aligned cantilever structures horizontally pivoted on said supporting structure, said cantilever structures being constructed to approximately balance each other, adjustable means for supporting said cantilever structures from said tower atvarying elevations, trackage from end to end of the assembled structures, a material handling car on trackage adapted to receive a load adjacent one end of the trackage to be run along the trackage, and to be dumped at any point along said trackage, a loading device for the car adjacent one end of the assembled structures, supporting footing adjacent said end of the assembled structures whereby the apparatus is stabilized while receiv ing, transporting and dumping loads, and power means carried by said central supporting structure for moving the car over said trackage and for raising and lowering said cantilever structures, said entire apparatus being movable as a unit from place to place.

14:. in a portable flexible bridge-like structure, a centrai base of relatively small area, means movably supporting the structure concentrated at said base, a pair of vertically aligned cantilever structures horizontally pivoted at opposite sides of said base, and a secondary base of smaller area than the central base carried at the e:- trernity of one cantilever structure, and means for moving said cantilever structure with its attached secondary base to raised position to transfer the weight of the entire structure to the central base for the purpose of moving the entire structure ver a narrow roadway through the medium of the means which movably supports it, said moving means being adapted to lower said cantilever structure with its attached secondary base to rest upon supporting surface necessary for the structure to receive, transport or dump its loads of material.

15. In portable mechanism for constructing levees and the like, a low-lying structure comprising a central support, a pair of oppositely extending arms pivoted on said support, said central support being in length but a small minor fractional part of the total span of the mechanism so that in spread it is insuificient to afiord stability of the structure when handling construc tion material and yet suiiicient to afford stability when not handling such material, and means on one arm adapted to rest on the ground whereby said arm and said central support constitute the supporting structure for the second arm when the machine is handling construction material, the said central support constituting the sole means for supporting both arms when the machine is not handling construction material.

16. A transportable levee constructing machine adapted to extend between the region of dumping of excavated material to form the levee and an excavating region remote therefrom, comprising a low-lying structure including a substantially central support, a pair of oppositely extending cantilever arms pivoted to the support, one of which has its unpivoted end extending to the region of excavation to receive excavated material thereat, and the other of which extends over the region to be filled, means extending over both of said arms and said support for the transport of excavated material, means transportably carrying said central support, and means on the said first cantilever arm adapted to rest on the ground whereby said arm and said central support constitute the supporting structure for the second cantilever arm when themachine is in use handling material, the said central support constituting the support means for the apparatus when being transported from place to place and not in use handling material.

17. In levee constructing apparatus, a first structure comprising spaced bases, one primary and the other secondary, and truss-like means secured to and supported on said primary and secondary bases and spanning the space therebetween; asecond structure pivotally supported from the first structure; means for transporting filling material over the first structure to the second structure for dumping; means for swinging said pivoted structure to facilitate construction of the levee; and means for articulating said first structure to lift its secondary base clear of the ground and transfer the weight of the entire structure to the primary base to facilitate moving the apparatus from place to place.

18. In levee constructing apparatus a first structure comprisins spacedbases, and a truss structure supported on said bases to span the space therebetween, a cantilever truss structure, means for pivotally mounting said cantilever truss structure at one of said bases, means for raising and lowering said cantilever truss structure on its pivot, means for articulating the said first structure to transfer the entire weight of the structure to that base and lift the other base clear of the ground surface, means for movably supporting; said base while supporting the entire structure, and means for transporting filling material from the first to the second structure for unloading at the second structure.

19. In levee constructing apparatus the combination of movable articulated structure supported adjacent its ends, cantilever structure pivoted on the supportingstructure, means for raising and lowering said cantilever structure,

on its pivot, means for eiiecting articulation of said supporting structure, and means for transporting material from the supporting structure to the cantilever structure for dumping.

20. In levee constructing apparatus, the con binaticn of movable articulated structure supported adjacent its ends, cantilever structure pivoted on thesupporting structure, means for raising and lowering said cantilever structure on its pivot, means for effecting articulation of said supporting structure, trackage on said structures and a filling material handling car adapted to be run on said trackage to the cantilever structure for dumping.

21. In levee constructing apparatus, the combination of movable articulated structure supported adjacent its ends, cantilever structure pivotally mounted adjacent an end of the movable articulated supporting structure for the transporting of levee fillingmaterial to the location at which a levee is to be constructed, means for swinging said cantilever structure to facilitate construction of the levee, and means for efiecting articulation of said supporting structure to facilitate the moving of the apparatus from place to place.

22. In levee constructing apparatus the combination of movable articulated structure supported adjacent its ends, articulated cantilever structure pivoted on the supporting structure, means for raising and lowering said cantilever structure on its pivot, means for effecting articumeans for articulating the supporting structurev at a point near the primary base, thereby transferring the entire weight of the'structure to that.

base and lifting the other base clear of ground surface, means for movably supporting said base while supporting the entire structure, and means for transporting filling material from the first to the second structure for unloading at the second structure said means including material han dling cars, and trackage on both structures positioned to. be aligned as a continuous railway for the cars in all positions of the pivoted structure.

24, In levee constructing apparatus, supporting structure including spaced primary and secondary bases and structure spanning them, a cantilever structure pivotally supported from lowering said cantilever structure onits pivot, means for articulating the supporting structure at a point near the primary base, thereby transferring the entire weight of the structure to that base and lifting the other base clear of ground Surfaca'means for movably supportingsaidbase while supporting the entire structure, means for transporting filling material from the first to the second structure for unloading at the second structure, said means including material handling cars, and trackage on' both structures posisaid supporting structure, means for raising and I tioned to be aligned as a continuous railway for the cars in all positions of the pivoted structure, and grading means carried by said pivoted struc-' ture. v

25. A low-lying cantilever bridge having a cen-, tral supporting base, a pair'of cantilever structures pivoted adjacent each side'oi said central base, a supplemental base adjacent the end of one of the cantilever structures, and means associated with each cantilever structure adapted to be made taut and to be slackened to effect accommodation of the bridge to varying ground conditions. i I

26. A'low-lying cantilever bridge having a central supporting base, a pair of cantilever structures pivoted adjacent each side of said central base, a supplemental base adjacent the end of one of the cantilever structures, and means associated with each cantilever structure adapted to be made taut and to be 'slackened to effect accommodation of the bridge to varying ground conditions, said central base and said pair of cantilever structures being so proportioned that the centre of gravity of the structure exclusive of live loads lies within its central base but requires the use of its supplemental base to stabilize it when carrying its working live loads.

2'7. A low-lying cantilever bridge having a central supporting base, a pair of cantilever structures pivoted adjacent each side of said central base, a supplemental base adjacent the end of one of the cantilever structures, and block and tackle like means adjustably connecting the cantilever structures to the central supporting base.

' JOHN TAYLOR CHAMBERS. 

